Choose the right cistern.

The size of the cistern depends on the amount of water to be collected and cost restraints. Choose a cistern that fits the needs of the water harvesting system. Collecting a small volume of water is better than collecting none.

Cistern Type

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fiberglass Tanks

Prevents algae growth and evaporation, rust resistant, durable

Higher initial costs, degradable, requires exterior coating

Polyurethane Tanks

Various sizes and shapes, alterable, inexpensive, movable

Can deteriorate over time if not treated for UV radiation

55 Gallon Steel Drums

Available, durable, moveable, great for small systems

Prone to corrosion, rust, and/or toxins

Galvanized Tanks

Inexpensive, attractive, moveable, alterable

Prone to rust, higher long term costs

Plaster Cisterns

Low profile, inexpensive, can alter color

Large footprint, unalterable, not able to be moved

Concrete Tank - ferrocement, stone or concrete block

Durable, permanent

Potential cracking, difficult to maintain

Office buildings with sizes ranging from 145,000 square feet to 1.5 million square feet had and annual water usage of 3 to 43 million gallons. Based on the above formula these same buildings would recover 4 to 45 million gallons of water for recycling.

Costs
A rainwater harvesting system has higher initial costs than buying water, but the payback period is less than 1 to 2 years. Save up to 50% on the water bill by reusing water. The largest cost of the system is the cistern container. Construction costs can range from $250 to $2000.

Maintenance
An effective system requires minimal, but regular maintenance. Change the filters every month or two depending on use. Clean the inside of the cistern yearly. Minimize the amount of debris in the gutters and keep leaves out of the filters.

Beyond Roofing to Energy

Adurel is an acronym for “Advanced Urethane Elastomers” and stands for our commitment to advance and integrate the latest polymer technologies available into the roofing and waterproofing industry. All systems are designed with primary focus on sustainability and energy conservation.